Walk Worthy of Your Calling
Unity is not sameness — one Lord and one Father, but gifts differ, and leaders exist to equip everyone else rather than do the work for them. Growing up means no longer being blown about. Then very ordinary instructions: tell the truth, work, watch your mouth.
4 1So I, prisoner in the Lord, urge you: walk worthy of the calling you were called with, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4One body, one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope that comes with your calling. 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8So it says, "Ascending on high, he took captives captive and gave gifts to people." a a v8 Paul is quoting Psalm 68:18, a victory psalm celebrating a conquering king. He applies it to Christ's ascension after his death and resurrection.
9Now "he ascended"—what does that mean, except that he also descended to the lower parts, the earth? 10The one who descended is the same who ascended far above all the heavens, so he might fill all things.
11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of our Father, into a mature adult, to the full measure of Christ's stature and fullness. 14So we're no longer infants, tossed by waves and carried by every wind of teaching, by human trickery, by cunning scheming to deceive. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, let us grow up in every way into him who is the head, Christ. 16From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows as each part works properly, so the body builds itself up in love.
Put on the New Self
17So I say this, and testify in the Lord: no longer live like the Gentiles, in the emptiness of their thinking. 18Darkened in their understanding, estranged from our Father's life through the ignorance in them and their hardened hearts. 19Having lost all feeling, they gave themselves to indulging bodily desire, greedily practicing every impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ, 21if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22to take off your old self, tied to your former way of life and corrupted by deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created like our Father in true righteousness and holiness.
25So put away lying—each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. 28The thief must quit stealing; instead, work hard with his own hands doing good, so he has something to share with the needy. 29Let no rotten word leave your mouth, only what helps others grow, fitting the moment, so it gives grace to hearers. 30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of our Father, who sealed you for the day of redemption. 31Rid yourselves of all bitterness, rage, anger, shouting, and slander, together with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as our Father forgave you through Christ.
